Yokogawa Corporation of America Releases New Multitasking, Modular OTDR with Capacitive Touchscreen

The new Yokogawa AQ7280 portable OTDR (optical time-domain reflectometer) delivers the ideal combination of measurement automation, user-friendly operation and reliable performance to enable fast, precise optical-fiber characterization in the field.

The AQ7280 is based on a plug-in modular design that allows it to be configured for a wide range of network environments and topologies from FTTH to metro and core networks. Measurement speed and ease of use are guaranteed by a capacitive multi-touch touchscreen, automated measurement software, and a highly stable operating system that enables rapid start-up - while field use is boosted by a battery pack providing more than ten hours' continuous operation.

"There is no room for compromise in the high stakes world of today's high speed and highly critical network infrastructure," says Tom Quinlan, General Manager of Yokogawa's North American Test and Measurement Division.

"When the speeds of our customers' networks are reaching 10G, 40G, 100G and beyond, the extraordinary burden on the carrier's reliability and ability to quickly recover from a mishap is crucial to their reputation. That is why many network operators and contractors are solely reliant on proven test equipment manufacturers like Yokogawa when it comes down to validating their fiber infrastructure's health. In that regard, we can proudly lay claim to nearly 100 years of Test and Measurement heritage and 30+ years of expertise in OTDRs alone. Our rich history has helped us become one of the best-selling OTDR brands in the world and we are very excited to share the numerous improvements on the new model to help our current and future partners succeed like never before."

The AQ7280 hardware is designed to provide robustness and reliability in field use under harsh conditions. It has no cooling fans on its chassis and hence no apertures to allow dust or water ingress. The software also contributes to the reliability, with an operating system that is much more stable than those originally designed for PC use and that takes just a few seconds to be ready to measure.

The AQ7280 features dual operating modes with a choice of the multi-touch touchscreen or hard-key buttons. Fully automatic measurements and easy-to-read analysis reports are instantly accessible through a range of built-in software applications.

The software also allows multiple functions to run simultaneously, including multi-fiber measurement; a smart event mapper; and the Eagle Eye feature (for high sampling resolution in long-distance measurements). The AQ7280 also incorporates functions for automatic analysis of the fiber connector's surface and for monitoring intermittent connections.

The AQ7280 supports wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi) for remote control of the instrument and for transferring measurement data.

Nine plug-in OTDR modules include single-mode, multi-mode, low dynamic range, ultra dynamic range, and two- , three- and four-wavelength options. A range of power sensors, light sources, visible light sources and fiber inspection probes are available for customization based on users' requirements.

All the single-mode units are optimized for PON network analysis in conjunction with high-port-count (up to 1:128) splitters.

For further information about the AQ7280 please visit tmi.yokogawa.com.

About Yokogawa Test & Measurement

Yokogawa has been developing measurement solutions for nearly 100 years, consistently finding new ways to give R&D teams the tools they need to gain the best insights from their measurement strategies. The company has pioneered accurate power measurement throughout its history. In 2002, it became a leading supplier of optical Test & Measurement instruments, following the acquisition of Ando Electric. Today, with more than 30 years of experience in optical testing, Yokogawa offers a broad range of optical instruments and is the market leader for Optical Spectrum Analyzers in research and test laboratory environments.

Yokogawa instruments are renowned for maintaining high levels of precision and for continuing to deliver value for far longer than the typical shelf-life of such equipment. Yokogawa believes that precise and effective measurement lies at the heart of successful innovation, and has focused its own R&D on providing the tools that researchers and engineers need to address challenges great and small.

Yokogawa takes pride in its reputation for quality, both in the products it delivers – often adding new features in response to specific client requests – and the level of service and advice provided to clients, helping to devise measurement strategies for even the most challenging environments.

Meet the Precision Makers at tmi.yokogawa.com

About Yokogawa Corporation of America

Yokogawa Corporation of America is a leading provider of Industrial Automation and Test and Measurement solutions. Combining superior technology with engineering, system integration, project management, and maintenance services, Yokogawa delivers field-proven operational efficiency, safety, and reliability. Yokogawa Corporation of America is headquartered in Sugar Land, TX, and is the North American Division of Yokogawa Electric Corporation's global network of 25 manufacturing facilities and 4 regional project engineering centers.

About Yokogawa

Yokogawa's global network of 86 companies spans over a total of 56 countries. Founded in 1915, the US$4 billion company conducts cutting-edge research and innovation. Yokogawa is engaged in industrial automation and control (IA), test and measurement, and other business segments. The IA segment plays a vital role in a wide range of industries including oil, chemicals, natural gas, power, iron and steel, pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, and food.